Seal for a sliding door, a sliding window or the like

ABSTRACT

Mechanism for a sliding door, window and the like, comprising a frame with at least one sash slidable therein, and an elastic profiled sealing strip provided on the sash and/or the frame around it, wherein at least the pressing region of the sealing strip is movable transversely in relation to the plane of the sash or the frame, there being provided a setting device for the sealing strip, by means of which device the pressing region of the strip can be pressed laterally against another frame.

O United States Patent 1 [111 3,857,199

Frach et a1. Dec. 31, 1974 [54] SEAL FOR A SLIDING DOOR, A SLIDING3,241,198 3/1326 Bagrmann 49/489 X KE 3,475,866 11 1 9 Jo ansen WINDOWOR THE Ll 3,694,962 10/1972 McDonald et a1. 49/477 [76] Inventors:Werner Frach, Friedenstr. l6;

Bernhard Janke, Humboldtsm 4 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS both of8580 Bayreuth, Germany 950,062 2/1964 Great Britain 49/477 [22] Filed:Nov. 15, 1972 Primary Exam1nerPh1lip C. Kannan [21] Appl' 306,590Attorney, Agent, or FirmWaters, Roditi, Schwartz &

Nissen [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 22, 1971 Germany2157832 [57] ABSTRACT Mechanism for a sliding door, window and the like,49/477 i gi i fi2 comprising a frame with at least one sash slidable[58] Fieid 480 481 therein, and an elastic profiled sealing stripprovided 49/493 6 6 on the sash and/or the frame around it, wherein atleast the pressing region of the sealing strip is movable [56] R f Ct dtransversely in relation to the plane of the sash or the e erencesframe, there being provided a setting device for the UNITED STATESPATENTS sealing strip, by means of which device the pressing 2,527,08410/1950 Smith 49/477 X region of the strip can be pressed laterallyagainst an- 2,859,987 11/1958 Emley,Jr 49/477 th f 3,100,918 8/1963Coverley 49/477 3,131,441 5/1964 Cornell 49/493 X 12 Claims, 9 DrawingFigures X HHiNIfU Uiilli 1 19H SHEET 2 0F 5 Pmmw m H914 SHEEI 30F 5 FIG.3

Fi-JENTED 1974 3. 857. 199

SHEET u UF 5 (III, M

SYSTEM FLUID- PRESSURE FATENTEDUEBWQH 3.857.189

SHEET 50? 5 SEAL FOR A SLIDING DOOR, A SLIDING WINDOW OR THE LIKESliding windows, sliding doors or the like are known in which theoutside edge of the sash and/or the inside edge of the surrounding frameis coated with a profiled rubber sealing strip. The sashes extend onguides which are so dimensioned that the profiled sealing strip alwaysremains in frictional contact with the edge of the other frame. Due tothis, sliding doors, sliding windows or the like are extremely difficultto move. Moreover, the profiled sealing strip is subjected toconsiderable wear by abrasion. The difficulty of movement and theabrasive wear can be obviated only at the expense of the sealingefficiency.

The method has therefore been adopted of providing on sliding windows,sliding doors or the like a lifting mechanism which lifts the leaf inorder that it may be slid, in such manner that it is no longer insliding contact in the region of its lower edge with the opposite edgeof the surrounding frame. The upper edge region of the sash isdovetail-shaped and rests in a corresponding dovetail-shaped groove inthe upper edge of the surrounding frame. The dovetailed groove is ofsuch depth that the sash can be lifted, the dovetail flanks beingsimultaneously lifted one from the other. For the sealing of the upperedge region, the profiled sealing strip is secured to the dovetailflanks. As a result of the lifting of the sash, the frictional contactof the profiled sealing strip on the dovetail flanks is also eliminated.After the sliding, the sash is lowered again.

This form of construction is extremely complex and costly owing to thelifting mechanism. Moreover, in the manufacture of such sliding windows,sliding doors or the like, high tolerance accuracies must be maintained,because only then can it be ensured that the profiled sealing strip isseated in fluid-tight manner both at the top and at the bottom when thesash has again been lowered.

The two aforesaid known forms of construction are attended by thefurther disadvantage that the sealing on the vertical sides of the sashcan only be effected by simply pushing the sash against thecorresponding sides of the surrounding frame. Since there is no sealingpressure here, gaps are generally formed, which place in question thewhole sealing expenditure. Such formation of gaps is promoted by unevenwear on the guides and by distortion of the frames (especially in thecase of wood frames).

Finally, the known forms of construction described in the foregoing havea further disadvantage, which resides in that the seal does not extendin a plane. While the profiled sealing strip can be provided on threesides of a sash on the outer edge thereof, it must be laterally securedon the fourth side, which does not bear against a corresponding side ofthe surrounding frame in the closed position, in order to effect thenecessary sealing with a corresponding side of another sash or a crosspiece of a surrounding frame. This means that the profiled sealing stripis offset at the corresponding corners of the sash, and satisfactorysealing is not ensured at these offset points.

The invention therefore has for its object so to design a mechanism fora sliding window, a sliding door or the like, comprising a seal thatdoes not impede the sliding of a sash slidable in a frame, and that thesealing (the quality of the seal) is improved. The measures necessaryfor this purpose are intended to be less complicated and costly than,for example, the abovedescribed lifting mechanism.

The solution according to major features of the invention ensures that aprofiled sealing strip is disposed in a plane. Lack of tightness due tooffsetting thus can no longer occur. A sliding door, a sliding window orthe like designed in accordance with the invention not only obviates theaforesaid disadvantage, but can also be more cheaply produced than aform of construction provided with the above-described complicatedlifting mechanism.

The invention basically provides a mechanism for a sliding door, windowand the like, comprising a frame with at least one sash slidabletherein, and an elastic profiled sealingstrip provided on the sashand/or the frame around it, which can thus be designated the operativemember of the mechanism, wherein at least the pressing region of thesealing strip is movable transversely in relation to the plane of theoperative member, there being provided a setting device for the sealingstrip, by means of which device the pressing region of the strip can bepressed laterally against another frame.

The solution according to the invention also renders possiblesubstantially greater tolerances in manufacture than have been possiblewith the forms of construction hitherto known. Since the profiledsealing strip laterally engages the frames, changes in the dimensions ofthe latter due to thermal expansion or warping (especially due to thenatural working" of wood when used as frame material) are also of noimportance.

A convenient possible means for the movable mounting, at least of thepressing region of the profiled sealing strip, by allowing that regionto rock along a corresponding edge.

A hydraulic or pneumatic setting device, employing a pressure hose,ensures uniform direct application of the profiled sealing strip aroundthe entire periphery of the frame. instead of a hydraulic or pneumaticdevice, a mechanical setting device may also be employed.

The invention also provides that the widening of the cross-section ofthe pressure hose can be converted into a pressing movement of theprofiled sealing strip. Since such widening is relatively small, whilethe desired pressing movement of the profiled sealing strip isrelatively great, appropriate means are provided for taking into accountthese two conditions.

If the profiled sealing strip, anchored to the respective frame, isdirectly subjected to the action of a pressure hose with the necessarysetting force, without the interposition of a rigid pressuretransmission part, the danger exists, owing to the elasticity of theprofiled sealing strip, that the desired setting movement will not occurat the corner points of the frame on inflation of the pressure hose,because the latter is creased at the corner bend and does not undergo atthis point the same cross-sectional widening as at the remaining partsof the frame.

The advantageous effect of a pressure transmission part will be seentherefrom. The pressure transmission part (if one is employed) ensuresthat the profiled sealing strip is uniformly deflected over the entirelength of the frame side in question, regardless of the fact that thecompressive action of the hose on the corner points of the frame isreduced. However, since it is assumed in the case of this form ofconstruction that no pressure transmission part is to be employed, theaforesaid prob lem must be solved in another way.

A possible solution to the last-mentioned problem is constituted,according to the invention, by the provi' sion of a cavity within thesealing strip, and also in that additionally corner connecting elementsare placed into each cavity, each element preferably consisting of twomandrells, preferably with a barbed profile.

Embodiments of the invention are described in the following by way ofexample with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a sliding window having two sashes,embodying the inventive mechanism,

FIG. 2 is a section along the line IIII through the sliding window ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III through the sliding window ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a sealing portion IV of FIG. 2, with amodified form of the resetting extension on a profiled sealing strip,

FIG. 4a is a schematic view similar to FIG. 4 to illustrate how at leastpart of the pressure fluid is fed from an inflatable pressure hose to ahollow profile region on the sealing strip,

FIG. 5 shows the sealing portion illustrated in section in FIG. 4,performing its sealing function,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sealing portion modified as comparedwith FIGS. 4 and 5,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the sealing portion modified as comparedwith FIGS. 4 to 6, and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a corner connection of the profiledsealing strip illustrated in section in FIG. 7.

The sliding window illustrated in FIG. 1, which embodies the inventivemechanism, consists of a window frame I and two sashes 2, 3, which areslidably mounted in the window frame in guides offset from one another.FIG. I shows the sashes in the closed position. For opening the slidingwindow, the sashes 2, 3 must be shifted in the direction of the arrowsshown. As may be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 1 consists ofsection bars with a central web 4 and guides 6. The two sashes 2, 3 runon the guides 6 by means of rollers 10. The sashes 2, 3 are provided atthe top with forked guiding elements 12 extending around an upper guide8.

The window frame 1 comprises at the centre a web 5 (not shown in FIG.I), which has undercut portions 7 on both vertical edges, and a surface11 capable of acting as a counter-surface. Each of the two sashes isprovided on its vertical inside limb with a claw porjection 9 whichengages in the corresponding undercut portion 7 in the closed position.This ensures that the limbs do not bend out under the pressure sealing,which will be more fully described in the following.

The construction and the manner of operation of the pressure seal willnow be more fully explained with reference to the sealing portion IV (ofFIG. 2) which is shown to a larger scale in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Situated in the outside edge of the sash limb 3 are two grooves, thecross-section of which is larger at the base than at the axis aperture.Fitted in a groove 15 is a mushroom-shaped extension 14 of a pressurehose 13, by which the latter is anchored in the groove 15. Fitted in agroove 16 is a mushroom-shaped projection 29 of a pressure transmissionpart 25 constructed as a section bar.

A portion of the hose 13 is disposed and held in the groove 15, whilethe terminal portion 29 of the bar 25 is similarly disposed in thegroove 16. The terminal portion acts as a pivot for attaching the bar.The grooves constitute means for supporting the hose between theoperative member (frame or sash) and the bar.

The pressure transmission part comprises a lever arm 28 and a pressingarm 26. The lever arm 28 lies above the pressure hose 13 and is bent atits free end. The pressure arm 26 is formed with a groove 27 which isalso wider at the base than at its axis aperture.

Disposed in the groove 27 is a mushroom-shaped thickened portion 24 of aprofiled rubber sealing strip 20. The profiled sealing strp 20 has apressing Zone 21 laterally offset from the pressing arm 26. The pressingzone 21 is provided with a sealing face 23, which in the present exampleis slightly inclined in relation to the plane of the sash. The sealingface 23 is intended to bear against a lateral face 18 of the windowframe I, the face 18 also being capable of performing the function ofthe counter-surface against which the strip 20 is pressed by the bar ortransmission part 25.

The profiled sealing strip 20 is furthermore provided with a resettingextension which is directed laterally towards the window frame 1. Theresetting extension bears against an abutment 17 on the sash 3. In FIG.2, the resetting extension consists of a narrow solid profile regiondirected obliquely in the manner of a finger in relation to the plane ofthe frame, while in FIGS. 4 and 5 it is formed by a hose-like hollowprofile region 32 which is filled with air or displaced hydraulic fluid.

In FIG. 4a, the same parts are shown as in FIG. 4, but with an addedfluid-pressure system 13A for the hose 13, for communication with theprofile region 32, so that at least part of the pressure fluid is fedfrom the hose 13 to the profile region 32 when the former is emptied.

In FIG. 5 is may be seen how the scaling is effected. For this purpose,the pressure hose 13 is pneumatically or hydraulically inflated. Theinflation is effected by manual actuation ofa hand lever 19, by means ofwhich an action is exerted on a pump (not shown), to which the pressurehose is connected. The pressure hose 13 thus presses on the lever arm 28of the pressure transmission part 25 and rocks it about an axisextending substantially in the region of the mushroom-like thickenedportion 29. The profiled sealing strip 20 is thus pressed against thecentral web 4 of the window frame 1.

As will be seen, the sealing area 23 of the pressing zone 21,constructed in the form of a lip, bears flush against the lateralbearing face 18 of the central web 4. Due to the rocking of the pressuretransmission part 25, the hollow profile region 32 of the profiledsealing strip 20 is elastically compressed. When the pressure medium isremoved from the pressure hose 13, the hollow profile region 32 tends toreturn to its normal form, illustrated in FIG. 4. Consequently, it rocksthe pressure transmission part 25 with the profiled sealing strip 20away from the window frame 1. The hose-like hollow profile region 32 maycommunicate with the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure system for thepressure hose, in such manner that an equalisation of the pressuremedium takes place between the hollow profile region and the pressurehose.

When the pressure hose 13 is to be inflated, pressure medium isextracted from the hollow profile region 32 and pumped into the pressurehose 13. The resetting force of the hollow profile 32 is therebysimultaneously reduced, whereby the rocking of the pressure transmissionpart 25 is promoted by the force exerted by the pressure hose 13. On theother hand, when the pressure transmission part 25 is to be rocked back,pressure medium is pumped out of the pressure hose 13 into the hollowprofile region 32, whereby the restoring force of the hollow profileregion 32 is assisted.

The finger-like solid profile extension 22 employed in FIG. 2 instead ofthe hollow profile region 32 performs the resetting function by virtueof the fact that it is outwardly bent and tensioned when the pressuretransmission part 25 is rocked.

It will be clear from the preceding description to those skilled in theart that the elastic profiled sealing strip can be provided on the sash2 or 3, or the surrounding frame 1, the strip being movable transverselyin relation to the plane of either the frame or the sash, which can bestbe designated an operative member of the inventive mechanism. Thepressure transmission part which consists of a substantially rigidmaterial may be rockably anchored in the edge of the operative member.In the optional arrangement including return spring means for urging apressing region of the strip 20 away from the counter-surface 11, 18 inthe open position, a recessing extension 22 may be provided for whichthere is an abutment 17 on the operative member, that is either on theframe 1 or on the sash 2, 3. These details constitute what is generallyknown as a kinematic reversal of the interengaging elements of theinventive mechanism.

In the form of construction illustrated in FIG. 6, the profiled sealingstrip 20 is secured directly to the sash 3. The sash 3 comprises forthis purpose a groove 47 which is wider at its base than at itsadmission aperture. There is pushed into the said groove 47 acorrespondingly widened region of the profiled sealing strip 20. Theanchoring thus effected is rigid. The pressure transmission part 25 isalso somewhat differently anchored to the sash 3. It is provided with ahooked extension 49 which engages in a groove 46.

This connection permits a rocking movement of the pressure transmissionpart 25. The pressing part 26 of the pressure transmission part 25 bearsonly loosely against the pressing region 21 of the profiled sealingstrip 20. The pressing region 21 is connected to a securing region 44 ofthe profiled sealing strip 20 by means of a curved, thin neck regionwhich permits a resilient deflection of the pressing region 21. Theresetting here takes place by means of the inherent resilience of theprofiled sealing strip 20.

The constructional forms according to FIGS. 4 to 6 have in common thefeature that the distance between the anchoring of the pressuretransmission part 25 to the frame and the point or region at which thepressure hose 13 bears against the pressure arm 28 is smaller than thedistance between the anchoring and the pressing region 21 of theprofiled sealing strip 20. This ensures that the relatively smallcross-sectional expansion of the pressure hose is converted into arelatively large pressing movement of the profiled sealing strip.

The resultant reduction of force has no effect, because the compressiveforce which can be produced by the pressure hose is extremely high.Owing to the relatively large pressing movement, there can remainbetween the profiled sealing strip and the corresponding frame, in theunsealed condition, a relatively large distance which ensures a slidingmovement without friction and without wear even with large manufacturingtolerances and subsequent working" of the wood of the frame.

In the further modifed form of construction as illustrated in FIG. 7,the pressure transmission part is employed, but the pressure hose 13acts directly. In this case, a widened region 54 of the profiled sealingstrip 20 is pushed into a groove 56 in the sash 3. The anchoring region54 and the groove 56 are so dimensioned that the profiled sealing strip20 is firmly gripped in the sash 3. The pressing region 21 is at somedistance from the gripping point and is connected to the anchoringregion 54 through a curved portion 57. The curved por tion 57 of theprofiled sealing strip 20 permits a rocking movement of the pressingregion 21 when the pressure hose 13 is inflated. Due to the firmgripping, the resetting is here again effected by the natural resilienceof the profiled sealing strip 20.

Since no separate pressure transmission part is employed in the form ofconstruction illustrated in FIG. 7, there is a danger that thedeflection of the pressing region 21 may not take place in the desiredmanner at the corner points of the frame, because at these corner pointsthe pressure hose is bent and does not undergo the same cross-sectionalexpansion under the action of a pressure medium as, for example, midwayalong the sides of the frame. This can be remedied by fixedly connectingtogether the abutting edges of the profiled sealing strip 20 at thecorner points of the frame. The profiled sealing strip illustrated inFIG. 7 is therefore provided with a cavity 58 which serves to receivecorner connecting elements 60.

In the constructional form illustrated in FIG. 7 also, the distancebetween the anchoring of the profiled sealing strip 20 and the point orregion of the profiled sealing strip against which the pressure hose 13bears is smaller than the distance between the anchoring and thepressing region 21 of the profiled sealing strip 20.

Such a corner connecting element is illustrated in FIG. 8. It consistsof two push-in mandrels 61, 62 connected together and extending at aright angle to one another, which are provided with barbs 63, as seen inlongitudinal section. These push-in mandrels are introduced into thecavity 58 in two sealing strip ends which abut one another at the cornerof a frame. The barbs 63 ensure that the connection is durable. Sincethe push-in mandrels consist of a rigid material, they transmit thedeflection of the profiled sealing strip from a region in which thepressure hose is still fully effective to the sealing strip cornerconnection, also to a full extent.

We claim:

1. A mechanism for a sliding door, window and the like, comprising: astationary frame; a profiled elastic sealing strip and a circumferentialpressure hose inflatable by a pressure fluid; a pressure transmissionbar mounted by way of a pivot, arranged at least partly between andcontacting both said hose and said strip; said bar having a surfacewhich is substantially normal to the plane of said frame and issubjected to the action of said hose, said bar pressing said stripagainst a counter-surface associated with said strip; at least one sashslidable in said frame; wherein one of said frame and said sashesconstitutes an operative member having a lateral surface thereon,substantially parallel to said plane, which surface constitutes saidcounter-surface;

means for supporting said hose between said operative member and saidbar; and a lever arm associated with said bar substantially parallel tosaid lateral countersurface; and wherein a component of a pivotalmovement performed by said lever arm, directed transversely to saidplane, is utilized for pressing said strip, wherein terminal portions ofsaid hose and said bar are held by said supporting means in saidoperative mem ber, a terminal portion of said bar constituting saidpivot.

2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting means isconstituted by two grooves in said operative member respectively holdingtherein the terminal portions of said hose and said bar.

3. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising an extensionfor anchoring said operative member, said extension beingmushroom-shaped and fitted into a groove which widens towards its base.

4. The mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said extension isprovided in at least one of said hose, said bar and said strip.

5. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar is a rigidprofiled rail having a pressure receiving arm which points away fromsaid pivot and is directed substantially transversely in relation tosaid plane of the frame, and includes said bar surface, and wherein saidbar has a pressure arm which points away from said pivot and is directedsubstantially parallel to said plane of the frame, and constitutes alever arm.

6. The mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said strip is mounted onsaid pressure arm of the bar.

7. The mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said pressure receivingarm is curved for fitting the shape of said hose.

8. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said strip has apressing surface which, together with said counter-surface, forms anacute angle in the open position, said acute angle being such that saidpressing surface and said counter-surface are substantially parallel ina sealing position and in a position closely adjacent thereto.

9. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising return springmeans for urging a pressing region of said strip away from saidcounter-surface in the open position.

10. The mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein said return springmeans is constituted by a resetting extension which is integral withsaid strip and is likewise elastic, said extension bearing against saidoperative member, which also supports said bar.

11. The mechanism as defined in claim 10, wherein said extension isformed by a hose-like hollow profile region on said strip, which regioncan be filled with the pressure fluid.

12. The mechanism as defined in claim 1], wherein said profile regioncommunicates with a fluid-pressure system for said hose so that at leastpart of the pressure fluid is fed from said hose to said profile regionwhen said hose is emptied.

1. A mechanism for a sliding door, window and the like, comprising: astationary frame; a profiled elastic sealing strip and a circumferentialpressure hose inflatable by a pressure fluid; a pressure transmissionbar mounted by way of a pivot, arranged at least partly between andcontacting both said hose and said strip; said bar having a surfacewhich is substantially normal to the plane of said frame and issubjected to the action of said hose, said bar pressing said stripagainst a countersurface associated with said strip; at least one sashslidable in said frame; wherein one of said frame and said sashesconstitutes an operative member having a lateral surface thereon,substantially parallel to said plane, which surface constitutes saidcounter-surface; means for supporting said hose between said operativemember and said bar; and a lever arm associated with said barsubstantially parallel to said lateral counter-surface; and wherein acomponent of a pivotal movement performed by said lever arm, directedtransversely to said plane, is utilized for pressing said strip, whereinterminal portions of said hose and said bar are held by said supportingmeans in said operative member, a terminal portion of said barconstituting said pivot.
 2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid supporting means is constituted by two grooves in said operativemember respectively holding therein the terminal portions of said hoseand said bar.
 3. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprisingan extension for anchoring said operative member, said extension beingmushroom-shaped and fitted into a groove which widens towards its base.4. The mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said extension isprovided in at least one of said hose, said bar and said strip.
 5. Themechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar is a rigid profiledrail having a pressure receiving arm which points away from said pivotand is directed substantially transversely in relation to said plane ofthe frame, and includes said bar surface, and wherein said bar has apressure arm which points away from said pivot and is directedsubstantially parallel to said plane of the frame, and constitutes alever arm.
 6. The mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said strip ismounted on said pressure arm of the bar.
 7. The mechanism as defined inclaim 5, wherein said pressure receiving arm is curved for fitting theshape of said hose.
 8. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein saidstrip has a pressing surface which, together with said counter-surface,forms an acute angle in the open position, said acute angle being suchthat said pressing surface and said counter-surfacE are substantiallyparallel in a sealing position and in a position closely adjacentthereto.
 9. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprisingreturn spring means for urging a pressing region of said strip away fromsaid counter-surface in the open position.
 10. The mechanism as definedin claim 9, wherein said return spring means is constituted by aresetting extension which is integral with said strip and is likewiseelastic, said extension bearing against said operative member, whichalso supports said bar.
 11. The mechanism as defined in claim 10,wherein said extension is formed by a hose-like hollow profile region onsaid strip, which region can be filled with the pressure fluid.
 12. Themechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said profile regioncommunicates with a fluid-pressure system for said hose so that at leastpart of the pressure fluid is fed from said hose to said profile regionwhen said hose is emptied.